# opposite

Pronunciation: say "OP-uh-zit" US /ˈɑpəzɪt/, UK /ˈɒpəzɪt/

## Noun

1. A person or thing that is completely different from another, or the reverse of it in nature, direction or effect.
   - Simple: A person or thing that is as different as possible from another, or that does or means the reverse.
   - _Calm and methodical, the new manager was the opposite of her impulsive predecessor._
   - _The twins look alike but are opposites in temperament._
9. A word having a meaning contrary to that of another word; an antonym.
   - Simple: A word that means the reverse of another word.
   - _The crossword clue asked for the opposite of 'generous'._
   - _Many adjectives form their opposites with the prefix 'un-'._
11. The additive inverse of a number, the value that yields zero when added to it.
   - Simple: In math, the number you add to another number to get zero.
   - _Every real number has an opposite, found by changing its sign._
   - _Subtracting a number gives the same result as adding its opposite._
12. An opponent or adversary, as in a contest or debate.
   - Simple: A person who is against you in a fight, game, or argument.
   - _The debater studied her opposite's record before the championship._
   - _Across the net, his opposite was already warming up for the match._

## Adjective

2. Physically on the other side of a space from something, or of two places or things, facing each other across that space.
   - Simple: Directly across from something, or across from each other.
   - _Their offices are on opposite sides of the courtyard._
   - _The ferry dock sits on the opposite bank of the river._
4. Of ideas, qualities, people or results: as different as possible from another, so that the two contrast or conflict.
   - Simple: Completely different from something else, or going against it.
   - _Their opposite political views made family dinners tense._
   - _The committee reached a conclusion opposite to everything the report had recommended._
5. Facing in the reverse direction, or moving along a contrary course.
   - Simple: Facing the other way, or moving in the other direction.
   - _A car appeared from the opposite direction, headlights blazing._
   - _The two currents flow in opposite directions along the strait._
6. Of or belonging to either of two complementary or mutually exclusive things.
   - Simple: Being one of two things that form a pair but cannot be the same.
   - _Electrons and protons carry opposite charges._
   - _In many bird species, elaborate displays attract members of the opposite sex._
10. Of leaves or flowers: positioned in pairs directly across from each other at the same point on a stem.
   - Simple: Growing in pairs along a plant's stem, with one leaf or flower on each side.
   - _Maple, ash, and dogwood all have opposite leaves, which helps tell them apart from oaks and elms._
   - _The mint family is recognizable by its square stems and opposite leaves._

## Preposition

3. Across from the person or thing named right after it; facing it.
   - Simple: On the other side of something or someone, facing it.
   - _The hotel stands opposite the old train station._
   - _He took the chair opposite the interviewer and waited._
7. In a complementary role to; co-starring with (a performer) in a production.
   - Simple: Acting as the partner of another performer in a movie, TV show, play, or other production.
   - _The unknown actor landed a lead role opposite an Oscar winner._
   - _Critics praised her restrained performance opposite the film's flamboyant villain._
13. Broadcast on a different channel in the same time slot as (another program).
   - Simple: On a different TV channel at the same time as (another show).
   - _The documentary aired opposite the championship game and drew a small audience._
   - _Scheduling the premiere opposite an awards show proved a costly mistake._

## Adverb

8. Across from someone or something already mentioned or understood, with no noun following.
   - Simple: In a place directly across from someone or something.
   - _She glanced at the man sitting opposite and smiled._
   - _The building opposite blocks our afternoon light._
14. Of a program: broadcast on a different channel in the same time slot as another program.
   - Simple: On a different TV channel at the same time as another show.
   - _The sitcom premiered in a tough slot, with the playoffs airing opposite._
   - _Whatever the rival network scheduled opposite rarely dented the show's ratings._

## Origin

Latin oppositus, the perfect passive participle of oppōnō ("I oppose"), reached English by way of Old French oposite; compare oppose.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/opposite (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).